Almost everyone agrees our current health-care system is unsustainable. Yet most folks in Washington are more concerned with scoring political points for next year's election than delivering reforms we need.

Some on the left suggested we eliminate private insurance, and replace it with an all government-run system. Some on the right suggested we eliminate the employer-based system, and build a new one based on tax credits. I believe we need to keep what works and fix what doesn't.

H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, is far from perfect. No bill ever is. I believe it contains significant improvements from the bill that was circulated over the summer, in no small part due to feedback from constituents across the country.
Doing nothing is the politically safe thing to do. But playing it safe is why big problems - like health care and immigration reform - haven't been tackled by Congress. That's why I voted to keep reform efforts moving forward. Doing nothing is not an option.

Over time, reform can slow rising costs and bring increased competition and choice to families faced with the quiet struggle to get by. Rapidly rising premiums hurt families - especially those with insurance. It's not fair for those with insurance to shoulder the burden of higher premiums to subsidize those who choose not to exercise personal responsibility. The average family policy now exceeds $13,000 a year and is likely to increase to $24,000 a year over the next decade.

Small businesses have it even worse. Since 2000, premiums have risen 130 percent, and are projected to rise another 15 percent next year.

Additionally, many who want insurance and are willing to pay for it are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Too many families are one medical emergency away from raiding their 401k, going into foreclosure or declaring bankruptcy.

While concerns over some issues remain, the bill contains no death panels, government takeovers or dismantling of the private insurance industry. It doesn't provide illegal immigrants with coverage nor does it weaken Medicare. As someone who is over 65 and depends on Medicare, I wouldn't have voted to move it forward if it did. In fact, the bill strengthens Medicare by immediately closing the prescription drug "doughnut hole" and has been endorsed by AARP.

I believe further improvements need to be made and the House needs to work with the Senate to get it done. But we can only make improvements if we move the ball forward. American lives are depending on it.

To see how health-care reform affects you, visit www.mitchell.house.gov.